Rethinking the Long Night of Museums: How to Make It Short and Sweet

On October 19, art venues across Munich, which typically close by 5 p.m., stayed open from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Celebrating its 25th year, the annual event Lange Nacht der Museen (Long Night of Museums) offered visitors the opportunity to explore more than 100 art spaces at night. However, those expecting special programs unavailable during regular daytime visits might have been disappointed.

Visiting museums at night was undeniably a cool experience. Standing on the first floor of the Staatliches Museum Ägyptischer Kunst (State Museum of Egyptian Art) and gazing through the glass walls at the Obelisk silhouetted against the night sky was particularly memorable. It was also amusing to see a touch of nightlife brought into the museums, like enjoying a beer right next to the exhibitions in the Deutsches Museum.

Ticket and brochure for Lange Nacht der Museen 2024. / Deutsches Museum during the event. Photos by Jing-wen Lo.

However, the event fell short of capturing the fleeting magic one might expect from a one-night-only experience. With few special programs for the evening, the 20-euro ticket felt like a poor bargain for students on a tight budget—especially when many museums can be explored individually for just one euro on Sundays. While the ticket did include access to special shuttle buses connecting art venues, it didn’t offer a truly unique artistic experience beyond what could easily be enjoyed during regular daytime visits.

The concept of opening art venues for an extended period on a single night is not unique to Munich and can be found in many cities worldwide. For instance, Nuit Blanche, a one-night-only annual art festival that originated in Paris in 2002, has since been adopted by 13 other cities, including Taipei. What sets it apart—and, in my opinion, makes it better than Munich’s version—is that the festival goes beyond simply keeping art venues open at night. It incorporates flash performances, art installations, and interactive activities across the city, creating a more dynamic and immersive experience. These special programs enhance the sense of ephemerality and make the annual event feel even more unique.

Art installations (light projection and ice sculptures) from Nuit Blanche Taipei 2023. Photos by Jing-wen Lo.

I’m not suggesting that the Lange Nacht der Museen should replicate Nuit Blanche, but it has the potential to offer so much more than simply keeping museum doors open—especially in a city like Munich, with its remarkable array of art venues. However, the organizers might benefit from rethinking the purpose of opening museums at night: what distinguishes it from daytime visits and how to better capture the essence of its one-night-only appeal. After all, 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. is not really a “long” night. With the fleeting magic of time-limited artistic experience, it could be a truly unique night–perhaps one that even feels too short!